Division, Reconciliation, Expansion What is happening in American culture/history that affects the literature of the period?

A LOT! Underground Railroad, Seceding States The Civil War ( ) Reconstruction of the Union ( ) Continued Westward Expansion The California Gold Rush (1849) The Indian Wars ( ) The Second Industrial Revolution (1880 +) Social Inequality

Literary Types Diaries, Speeches, Letters, Songs Short Stories, Novels Narratives Poems

Literary Trends and Catch Phrases ‘The Gilded Age’ – Mark Twain Regionalism- Focus on one specific area/type of person Realism- Focus on mundane/everyday life Naturalism- social conditions, heredity and environment shaped human character Spirituals Voice of discontent

Causes of the Civil War 1.States’ rights - #1 reason why Lincoln was Pro-war. - He did not believe states should be able to secede from the Union. 2. Slavery - Issue building since the creation of the Union… Remember? - North and South completely disagree?

The North- Beliefs and Background For a strong federal government Slaves are PEOPLE, not property Larger population = stronger army Industry/factories/commerce Better trade connections outside of U.S. Large cities = large work force Weapons manufacture

The South- Beliefs and Background For the rights of individual states Slaves are PROPERTY, not people ½ the number of soldiers as the North No factories or industry Trade connections outside of US based on agriculture Rural/agricultural way of life Fewer, smaller cities = smaller work force Technologically behind- cannot mass produce weapons

Slave Spirituals Why did the African American slaves sing? 1. To express democratic values and community solidarity 2. A source of inspiration and motivation 3. An expression of protest 4. As coded communication (signals, maps)

Slave Spirituals Many songs we know today started as spirituals: –Follow the Drinking Gourd –Swing Low Sweet Chariot –Go Down Moses

Slave Spirituals As we read, see if you can discover the coded meanings of the following words: 1.Moses 2.Sweet Chariot 3.Pharaoh 4.Israelites 5.Egypt 6.Heaven

Slave Spirituals REFRAIN: A word, phrase, line, or group of lines repeated at regular intervals in a poem or song

Frederick Douglass Born a slave on a plantation in Maryland Received education from the wife of his master Escaped and began speaking at abolitionist conventions in Massachusetts, a free state Some found it hard to believe he was a slave because of how well spoken and intelligent he was

Frederick Douglass Cont. He wrote his first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and American Slave Ran to England because he was technically still a slave and the book revealed details of who he was. Freedom purchased by friends in England; returned to U.S. a free man Became an advisor to Lincoln, helped women gain voting rights, and was the U.S. minister to Haiti

Terms and Ideas from My Bondage and My Freedom Nonfiction: presents and explains ideas about real people, places, objects, and/or events Autobiography: A piece of nonfiction in which the author tells his or her own life story Hyperbole: A deliberate exaggeration or overstatement often used for comic effect. Example: ‘Give him an inch, he’ll take a mile’ Narrative: A story told in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama.They are often classified by their content or purpose. Ex: exploration narrative, slave narrative, personal narrative.

My Bondage My Freedom: Mini Quiz Write short answers to the following questions: 1. How does Mrs. Auld treat Douglass at first? 2. Who is responsible for her change in attitude? 3. What does Douglass blame in general for the change? Write ONE paragraph that answers both of the following questions. Both slaves and slaveholders are victims of slavery, how? Education was both Douglass’ salvation and frustration, why?